Turns out, a preservative called methylisothiazolinone (MI), which helps control bacteria in pre-moistened facial wipes, may come with health risks.

“Over the last year or two, we’ve seen an explosion in the number of contact dermatitis cases caused by MI,” says Matthew Zirwas, MD, director of the contact dermatitis center at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center. “It’s unbelievable, and it’s by far the most significant allergen I’ve ever seen.”

The preservative was approved for use in 2005, but as companies opted to use it more often in various types of cosmetic products, including facial wipes, soap and certain hair products, reports of allergic reactions began to grow.